Photocopy machine with fluid bath and liquid reservoir package elevator



Oct. 15, 1968 J. w. CARLSON 3,405,625

PHOTOCOPY MACHINE WITH FLUID BATH AND LIQUID RESERVOIR PACKAGE ELEVATOR Filed April 28, 1966 INVENTOR: JOHN W. CARLSON ATT'YS United States Patent j 3,405,625 PHOTOCOPY MACHINE WITH FLUID BATH AND LIQUID RESERVOIR PACKAGE ELEVATOR John W. Carlson, Evanston, Ill., assignor t0 Speed-O-Print Business Machines Corporation, Chicago, III., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 545,991 4 Claims. (CI. 95-89) This invention relates to photocopy machines, and more particularly relates to photocopy machines employing a liquid bath used in reproducing an image on a copy sheet as the latter is conveyed therethrough. Examples of liquid baths used in reproducing an image on a copy sheet in photocopy machines comprise a liquid toner bath consisting of a suspension of carbon particles in a suitable liquid, a liquid bath containing chemicals for effecting diffusion transfer of the image from a previously exposed negative to a positive sheet, and the like.

The photocopy machines herein have means used to reproduce the image of the original sheet on the copy sheet, e.g., by an electrostatic process, by use of diffusion transfer paper, and the like, said means including a shallow receptacle or tray adapted to hold a liquid and through which the copy sheet is passed to duplicate thereon the image of the original sheet.

The machine ordinarily has means for conveying the copy sheet through the liquid in the tray. The improvements of the present invention are concerned with elevator mechanisms contiguous to one side of the tray. The platform or support member of the elevator is adapted to support a reservoir package containing the liquid used in the tray. The liquid reservoir package and the tray are connected by tube means, e.g., a flexible tube, forming a fluid-conducting member for gravity flow of liquid between the tray (via an opening at the bottom of the tray) and the reservoir package.

. The elevator platform is supported on the swinging ends of pivot arms extending along opposite sides of the liquid tray. The pivot arms are supported on the machine frame by fulcrum means providing a horizontal pivot axis for the arms, whereby pivotal movement of said arms in the vertical plane about the fulcrum means causes the platform and the reservoir package supported thereon to be elevated to a raised position or lowered to a down position. In the down position, the reservoir package is enough below the bottom of the tray to empty the tray of its fluid contents by gravity'flow of liquid from the tray through the tube means into the package. In the elevated position, the package is enough elevated relative to the tray to cause gravity flow of liquid in the package through the tube means into the tray and to fill the tray with liquid to a non-overflow level.

In accordance with this invention, the raising and lowering of the platform is achieved through manual movement of a handle operatively associated with the platformpivot arm combination. Furthermore, there is means operatively associated with this combination for holding or restraining the platform in elevated position, which means is releasable for the purpose of lowering the platform and the reservoir package therein to the aforesaid down position.

The pivot arms extend from their fulcrum means along opposite sides of the tray to the elevator platform to provide a compact assemblage of tray and elevator mechanism. Furthermore, a preferred form of elevator mechanism is constructed so that its platform tilts or slopes downwardly toward the tray when the platform is in raised position.

There are many advantages accruing from storage of the liquid in the reservoir package during periods of non-use of the photocopy machine. For example, when 3,405,625 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 the machine is moved there is little likelihood of spillage of liquid when all of the liquid is in the reservoir package. Also, in certain types of photocopy machines, the chemicals in'the liquid are susceptible to atmospheric oxidation. While the liquid is in the tray it is exposed to the atmosphere. Hence, by storing the liquid in the reservoir package during periods of non-use of the machine, the dangers of atmospheric oxidation are reduced considerably. Still further, periodic flow from the reservoir package to the tray, and vice versa, has a beneficial agitating effect on liquids such as liquid suspensions of solid particles.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide improvements in elevator mechanisms used in elevating and lowering a liquid reservoir package for gravity flow to and from a liquid tray in the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in said elevator mechanisms embodying an elevator platform supported on the swinging ends of pivot arms, the pivoting of which effect the elevation and lowering of the elevator mechanism.

A further object is to provide elevator mechanisms in which the elevator platform and the liquid reservoir package thereon in elevated position are tilted downwardly toward the tray to facilitate emptying the package during gravity flow of liquid from the package to the tray.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide improvements in elevator mechanisms providing pivot arms aforesaid in combination with stabilizer arms for tilting the elevator platform when it is in raised position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in photocopy machines a compact arrangement of a liquid tray and an elevator mechanism, the raising and lowering of which, respectively, fills and empties said tray of its liquid contents from and into the liquid reservoir package supported on said mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of the tray and elevator section of a photocopy machine with the elevator mechanism in down position;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the machine of FIG. 1 with the elevator mechanism in elevated position; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame 10 comprising as its main components a bottom plate 11 and vertical side plates 12 and 13. A shallow tray 14 is mounted between plates 12 and 13. The tray 14 has a paper guide 15 for inserting paper by hand into the tray. The paper is submerged in the liquid in the tray and follows the curved contour of the bottom of the tray until its leading edge is picked up by the contacting, rotating, squeeze rollers 16 and 17. These rollers squeeze out excess liquid and convey the paper into a slot or passage 18 from which it is ejected from the machine. The elevator mechanism 19 is disposed to one side of the tray 14. It supports a liquid reservoir package 20, such as a flexible wall envelope, and raises the liquid reservoir package between the down and elevated positions as illustrated in the drawings.

The paper guide 15 is one adapted for use in a diffusion transfer type photocopy machine wherein an exposed negative and a positive are passed simultaneously through the liquid bath in the tray. It comprises elongated, sloped upper and lower walls 25 and 26 and an elongated, sloped median wall 28, the latter dividing the paper guide into paper passages 29 and 30. The passages 29 and 30 are provided so that the negative sheet and the positive sheet may be introduced separately into the bath to insure wetting of both sheets. The median wall 28 has its lower edge immersed in the liquid in the tray, thereby assuring the separation of the two sheets for a sufficient time to allow them to he wetted on both sides by the liquid. The paper introduced into the tray passes over spaced, curved ribs 31 extending from side-to-side across the tray 14. The tray comprises end walls 32 and 33, side walls 34 and 35, and a centrally depressed bottom wall 36.

The lowermost portion of the bottom wall 36 has a longitudinal channel 37 therein, which channel connects at its longitudinal mid-portion with a fluid conducting passage 38 in the bottom of the tray. This passage has a tapped outer end, in which is threaded the nipple 39, which in turn receives an end of a flexible tube 40. The connection between nipple 39 and tube 40 is made fluid tight by the O-ring 41.

The opposite end of the tube 44 connects with a flexible walled envelope 42.. The envelope 42 forms the liquid reservoir package 20 and may be housed in a relatively rigid walled carton of the type shown in my Patent No. 3,101,036.

The envelope 42 (or the carton containing said envelope) is supported on the platform 46 of an elevator having a vertically slotted front wall 47, the slot 48 of which permits the flexible tube 40 to extend therethrough. It furthermore has a pair of spaced side walls 49 and 50 and a rear wall 51.

The elevator mechanism of the invention comprises a pair of pivot arms and 56 which are respectively positioned on the outer sides of the side plates 12 and 13. The swinging ends of pivot arms 55 and 56 are pivotally connected to the elevator mechanism by pivot pins 57. Pivot pins 57 extend through slots 61 in the respective side plates 12 and 13 and are attached to the side walls 49 and 50 near the lower edges thereof.

The opposite ends of the pivot arms 55 and 56 have base legs 58 and 59 which are rigidly attached to respective ends of a horizontal tube or shaft 60. The tube or shaft 60 is rotatably journalled in the side plates 12 and 13 and provides a horizontal pivot axis for the arms 55 and 56, which pivot together by virtue of their rigid attachment to the pivotable tube or shaft 60.

The elevator mechanism also has a pair of stabilizer arms 63 and 64 connected at their respective swinging ends to the upper, front corners of side walls 49 and 50 by pivot pins 65. The opposite ends of stabilizer arms 63 and 64 are connected by pivot pins 66 to the respective side plates 12 and 13. The pins extend through slot 62 in the respective side plates 12 and 13. The stabilizer arms 63 and 64 are employed to cause the elevator platform and the liquid reservoir package supported thereon to assume, in raised position, the tilted orientation shown in the drawings. The platform may be substantially horizontal or somewhat downwardly tilted away from the tray in the down position and is tilted toward the tray in the elevated position. The latter has the advantage of tipping the liquid reservoir package 20 toward the end to which the tube is connected to better facilitate emptying of the contents of the liquid reservoir package.

The elevator mechanism is actuated by a vertical operating arm 67 fixedly attached at its base to the pivot arm 55. The upper end 68 of the operating arm projects above the frame of the machine (as well as any cabinet or housing, not shown, mounted over the machine frame) in order to provide an end of the arm which can be gripped.

The side plate 13 has a curved locking bar 69 mounted thereon. The curved locking bar 69 has shoulders 70 and 71 at opposite ends, against which shoulders the upper portion of operating arm 67 is adapted to bear to hold the elevator mechanism in elevated position or down position, respectively. The arm 67 is moved from one shoulder to the other by swinging it sidewardly enough to clear a shoulder, upon which it can be swung to the vicinity of the other shoulder and engaged therewith.

The embodiment previously described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, and changes may be made in form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention herein described and claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a photocopy machine embodying a tray adapte to hold a liquid bath used in producing an image on a copy sheet passed through said bath and means for introducing and conveying said sheet through said bath, the improvement comprising a vertically movable, substantially horizontal platform contiguous to one side of said tray, a liquid reservoir package on said platform, tube means connecting the bottom of said tray and said package, pivot arms connected near swinging ends thereof to said platform, fulcrum means spaced from said ends providing a horizontal pivot axis for said arms, manually movable handle means for raising and lowering said platform and package thereon in concert with vertical pivoting of said arms between a lower position wherein said package is enough below the bottom of said tray to permit said tray to empty by gravity flow of liquid from said tray through said tube means into said package and an elevated position wherein said package is enough elevated relative to said tray to cause gravity flow of liquid from said package through said tube means into said tray, and means for holding said platform in said elevated position.

2. In a photocopy machine as claimed in claim 1, said platform and said package thereon being tilted downwardly toward said tray when they are in elevated position.

3. In a photocopy machine as claimed in claim 1, means pivotally connecting said swinging ends of said pivot arms to said platform, and stabilizer arm means causing said platform and said package thereon to assume a downwardly tilted orientation toward said tray when said platform and package are in elevated position.

4. In a photocopy machine as claimed in claim 3, said stabilizer arm means comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected at one end thereof to respective, opposite sides of said platform and at the other end thereof to said machine.

No references cited.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

FRED L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A PHOTOCOPY MACHINE EMBODYING A TRAY ADAPTED TO HOLD A LIQUID BATH USED IN PRODUCING AN IMAGE ON A COPY SHEET PASSED THROUGH SAID BATH AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING AND CONVEYING SAID SHEET THROUGH SAID BATH, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A VERTICALLY MOVABLE, SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLATFORM CONTIGUOUS TO ONE SIDE OF SAID TRAY, A LIQUID RESERVOIR PACKAGE ON SAID PLATFORM, TUBE MEANS CONNECTING THE BOTTOM OF SAID TRAY AND SAID PACKAGE, PIVOT ARMS CONNECTED NEAR SWINGING ENDS THEREOF TO SAID PLATFORM, FULCRUM MEANS SPACED FROM SAID ENDS PROVIDING A HORIZONTAL PIVOT AXIS FOR AXIS ARMS, MANUALLY MOVABLE HANDLE MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID PLATFORM AND PACKAGE THEREON IN CONCERT WITH VERTICAL PIVOTING OF SAID ARMS BETWEEN A LOWER POSITION WHEREIN SAID PACKAGE IS ENOUGH BELOW THE BOTTOM OF SAID TRAY TO PERMIT SAID TRAY TO EMPTY BY GRAVITY FLOW OF LIQUID FROM SAID 